Expert: Jeff Dalin DDS - 11/10/2004

Question
I don't mean to keep bugging you about this but I had a few more questions:  My tongue is still feeling somewhat numb (like when novcaine is wearing off type of feeling), it hasn't gotten worse or better. The numb feeling is more on the top of my tongue not the side in one spot.  Should I be getting worried since I am at 13 days post op? Can it take this long or longer to get the feeling back?  I do admit that I have been constantly touching, pressing and squeezing my tongue in that area - does that hinder or aggreviate my healing?  Is it possible to have nerve damage that results from having a tonsillectomy? I assume that since it wasn't like this before my surgery, only when I woke up from surgery - that should be a good sign? My ENT post op appt isn't until Nov. 19th and to be honest I'm starting to freak out (my brain wants to think oral cancer).  Thank you for your patience.


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Followup To
Question -
You might remember me - 27 yr. old white female -hypocondriac/anxiety/panic attacks - huge fear of cancer (grandmother died of Ovarian cancer).  I haven't actually had any anxiety/panic attacks since August.  Well I recently had a tonsillectomy 7 days ago due to chronic tonsillitis.  From my understanding they used some type of tongue gag to hold my tongue down.  When I woke up from surgery my tongue was so sore and swollen on each side. It looked like I had cuts on each side of my tongue that turned white by the next day.  The next day I had what looked like 2 ulcers underneath my tongue but they went away after 2 days.  One side of my tongue is pretty much healed (can't see any cuts) but the other side is still a little sore.  It just has this weird sensation on that one side in one little section.  It's like a numb sensation but yet I can still feel it (my tongue)so I guess its not really numb.  Do you think I should be concerned or is this common?  It's not nearly as bad as it was 4 or 5 days ago.  Also my tongue is coated with this yellow/whitish stuff and I've tried to use a tongue thing to get it off but it's so thick.  Could that be from all the white things (scabs)in the back of my throat?  Didn't know if it could be thrush since I just came off Augemtin Oral Suspension?  I do have a little bit of burning toward the front/center tip of my tongue.  I have been doing so good at not overreacting and panicing and not rushing to the thought of cancer.  Please advise if this is maybe common with surgery and/or tonsillectomy.  Just don't want to get back into that pattern of freaking out again and thinking its cancer.
Answer -
Tara,
When you have surgery, you are often intubated. this can cause tongue and throat soreness afterwards. Totally normal occurrence. The white coating I cannot diagnose without seeing it in person. There is one easy way to put your mind at ease. Let your MD or surgeon look at you postoperatively. He/she will be able to tell you instantly what is going on soreness-wise and coating-wise. You really need to see him/her so that you can relax. I would not think cancer is even a remote possibility here. They just were looking and working in your mouth area when they did your tonislectomy. If there were anything going on in there, they should have been able to see it at that time. Relax...heal yourself up.

Jeff Dalin, DDS

Answer
Tara,
Playing with it will definitely make it feel strange. You have to do your best not to continually play around with it. I know that is difficult because you are so worried. Stress will also bring on that tingly feeling. Oral cancer is usually something that is obvious and something you can see visually. So that should help put your mind at ease. I cannot do anything more to make you relax other than to reassure you that you will be fine once you get your postop exam. If it is driving you bonkers, then try to move up your postop visit. I hope my reassurance allows you to relax somewhat. I cannot give you anything more definitive over the internet. This has to be an "in person" exam. Good Luck,

Jeff Dalin, DDS